Dear Ex 2019

When San-lian’s ex-husband, Zheng-yuan, passes away, she uncovers the shocking truth that he has made changes to his insurance policy, excluding their son from the benefits and instead favoring his male partner, Jay (Roy Chiu). Filled with anger and disbelief, San-lian confronts Jay at his apartment, demanding that he return the money to them. However, Jay firmly refuses to comply, intensifying the already fraught situation.

Meanwhile, San-lian’s son, Cheng-xi (Joseph Huang), struggles with the relationship he has with his mother. He often feels that her primary concern is the insurance payout rather than their family. To cope with his emotions, he attends therapy sessions at school. In the heat of an argument after his mother discards his father’s memorabilia, Cheng-xi decides to leave home unexpectedly, opting to live with Jay. This shift places Jay in a position of responsibility, and he reluctantly begins to care for the troubled teenager. Cheng-xi shadows Jay throughout the day, witnessing his life as a theatre director.

Through flashbacks, the backstory unfolds between Jay and Zheng-yuan — originally coworkers in the theatre, they became lovers before Zheng-yuan chose to conceal his true self and marry San-lian to start a family. Tragically, after becoming ill, Zheng-yuan departed from his family to spend his final days with Jay.

San-lian persistently visits her son at Jay’s apartment, attempting to persuade him to return home. During one of these encounters, she inadvertently meets Jay’s mother, who remains oblivious to her son’s sexual orientation. In a calculated bid for money, she enters Jay’s rehearsal space and threatens to reveal his secret unless he hands over the insurance funds. Despite the threat, she divulges his truth to her son anyway.

As tensions escalate, Jay faces a brutal ambush from a group of men who leave him injured with a broken leg. Cheng-xi finds him in this vulnerable state and immediately tells his mother, who rushes Jay to the hospital. It comes to light that Jay had previously turned to loan sharks for financial assistance to help Zheng-yuan receive a liver transplant, which sadly proved ineffective.

Despite his injury, Jay is determined to perform in his theatrical debut. Following a hurried return to the theatre, San-lian and Cheng-xi attend the performance, witnessing Jay’s talent on stage. After the show, an emotional moment occurs when Jay’s mother presents him with flowers, signifying her acceptance of him as he and Jay share a heartfelt embrace. In a surprising twist, San-lian ultimately decides to let Jay keep the insurance money, fostering a moment of reconciliation as Cheng-xi moves back in with his mother, bringing a semblance of peace to their complicated lives.